FACULTY SENATE
FULL MINUTES OF DECEMBER 1, 2009
The fourth
regular meeting of the 2009-2010
Agenda Item I. Call to Order
Marianna Walker, Chair of the Faculty called the meeting to
order at 2:10 p.m.
Agenda Item II. Approval of Minutes
The minutes of November
3, 2009,
were approved as distributed.
Agenda Item III. Special Order of the Day
A. Roll Call
Senators absent were: Professors Sprague (Physics), Jeffs
and Gabbard (Education), Van Willigen (Sociology), Rigsby (Geology), Tovey
(English), and Mageean (VC for Research and Graduate Studies).
Alternates present were: Professors Grubb for Paul
(Business) and Schmidt for Fogarty (Education).
B. Announcements
Letters concerning
unit elections for 2010-2011
accordance with the ECU Faculty Manual,
Appendix A, elections are to be held during the month of February. Please call the
We
have the following vacancies on standing University Committees and ask anyone
interested in serving to please contact Professor Marianna Walker, Chair of the
Faculty, at walkerm@ecu.edu.
· Family Weekend Committee, 1 year term as Chair of the Faculty representative
· Infection Control Committee, 1 year term as Chair of the Faculty representative
· Resident Status Appeals Committee, 1 year term as Chair of the Faculty representative
· Student Scholarships, Fellowships, and Financial Aid Committee, 1 year full committee term
A special thanks was extended to Vice
Chancellor Phyllis Horns (and Christy Daniels) for providing the additional
food and wine for today’s meeting.
The
Committee on Committees has been charged to seek volunteers to serve on the
various 2010-11 academic, appellate, administrative, Board of Trustees, and
student union committees. Faculty are strongly encouraged to participate in this
component of shared faculty governance and complete a volunteer form by February 17, 2010. Committee appointments will be finalized at the April 27,
2010,
1) On OneStop under
Employee Section, faculty members click on “Faculty Committee Volunteer Form” and
complete the committee
volunteer preference
form.
2)
A faculty member may complete the volunteer preference form that is
available on the
http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/fsonline/customcf/committee/callforvolunteers.htm.
The Research and Creative Activity Grant Committee invites
proposals for the 2010-11 Research/Creative Activity
Grants program. Guidelines for
this year’s grant program are available online at: http://author.ecu.edu/cs-acad/fsonline/customcf/committee/rg/proposal.doc.
Please direct questions to Professor Carmine
Scavo, Chair of the Research/Creative Activity Grants Committee at scavoc@ecu.edu.
The Chancellor has approved the following resolutions from
the November 3, 2009
09-37 Fall 2009 Graduation Roster, including honors program graduates.
09-38 Revisions to the ECU Faculty Manual, Part V. Section I.J.
Grade
Appeals.
09-39 Request for Undergraduate Game Development Certificate
within the College of Technology and
Computer Science, Request for Realignment
of Higher Education Doctoral
Concentration within the College of Education, and Request for Film
Studies Interdisciplinary Minor within the Department of English.
09-40 Revised
Department of Geography
and Department of Psychology
unit codes of Operation.
09-41 Approval
of Geography
1000 for Social Science Foundations Credit.
09-42 Revisions to the University Undergraduate Catalog,
Section 5: Academic
Regulations
09-43 Request for authorization to
establish a Master
of Science in Security Studies, within the Department of Political Science
and a proposed Graduate
Certificate in Physical Education Clinical Supervision, within the College
of Health and Human Performance.
09-44 Curriculum matters contained in the September
10, 2009, September
24, 2009 (includes revised course proposal form and signature form for curricular
changes), and October
8, 2009 meeting minutes.
09-45 Revised Department
of Biology
and Department of English
unit codes of Operation.
09-46 Resolution in Support
of the Biosciences Building.
C. Steve
Ballard, Chancellor
Chancellor Ballard began his remarks to the
Risk management is the first priority of the Board of
Trustees and Bill Koch has been named to a position that combines all the
agencies that impact on safety on campus. The Board of Trustees is also very
interested in risk management relative to a university policy manual. A policy
for space allocation and the readmission of students with criminal records are
two areas that are receiving specific attention. The Board of Trustees is also encouraging more
educational partnerships with
Bill Koch was then recognized by the Chancellor so he could
discuss activities relating to increasing safety on campus. Mr. Koch reported
that over $2,000,000 had been spent over the last few years on security
infrastructure. This includes card access to buildings, security cameras as
well as indoor and outdoor speakers and voice override phones. Security systems
are being designed into new buildings and an effort is being made to prioritize
and retrofit existing buildings. Koch stated that the renovation of older
buildings is difficult, but at least ECU is not getting any further behind.
This year a combined comprehensive package was created in order to resolve the
safety needs outlined by various departments that are responsible for campus
safety, and $700,000 was funded for additional cameras and other infrastructure
needs as well as $500,000 for recurring expenses and support. This shows that
ECU feels that safety is a priority, given the budget situation that ECU is now
experiencing. ECU is also in the midst of a master plan study with “security” as one of the working groups, with
a specific consultant, for the master plan. A separate group is working on a
lighting master plan. Koch stated that in general, is that ECU has the wrong
kind of light, so we need to make the lighting more consistent throughout
campus. The university has an excellent consultant who also advising us about
light pollution and the possible spill- over effect of improved campus lighting
on our neighbors.
ECU is focusing on three key areas as far as funding: First,
is to have the best police department that we can possibly have. There is a
currently a team that is reviewing each officer individually and is studying
best practices. The campus police department is also going through a
reaccreditation; the department is currently accredited and this is a standard
three year review. Secondly, we are looking at infrastructure. The security
consultant, for the master planning effort, has mentioned that the integration
of our communication and notification system is impressive. Finally, training
and education is a priority. This is an area that we have been lacking in and
an effort is being made to have some on line training so professors can know
how to handle safety situations in the classroom.
Professor Glascoff (Health and Human Performance) asked how
faculty should handle a situation when they see a student acting bizarre on
campus and/or when he or she senses that a person is causing trouble. Mr. Koch
responded that there are policies and in place. These include a tip line, the
police can be called on the emergency phones or at emergency numbers , and that
a professor can call the counseling center as well as the police. There is also
a student issues and Concerns Committee, which includes a faculty members. Mr. Koch mentioned that some
information is currently on the police website , but that the proposed
university training for faculty that the university wants to start will focus
on questions relating to what a professor should do when someone is acting
strangely on campus. He concluded that ECU needed to do a better job in this
training.
Professor Wilson (Sociology) stated that in a random student
survey, students were asked if they felt safe on campus in the evenings. Female students commented that they felt safe
in early evenings, but they expressed concern that they did not see any
security personnel around campus during this time. Mr. Koch stated that he was aware of the need
for more security personnel and that money had been set aside to train more
officers for bike patrol and more community policing. There is a student survey that was sponsored
by SGA and the data that was gained in the latest survey is being analyzed at
this time.
Professor Schenarts (Medicine) stated that on West campus
students and staff often arrive early on campus (4:00 am) and asked if he would
consider extending the hours of police patrol in the morning. Mr. Koch stated that yes, more police
presence was necessary and that this had been discussed with the
Professor Niswander (Business) stated that the current 911
system works well because it is a consolidated effort; he suggested that ECU
needed the same type of system on campus, i.e. one number that is circulated to
all on campus. Mr. Koch stated that one phone number was the goal and was
working with
Professor Zoller (Art and Design) asked for information that
could be distributed to students that have expressed concerns with feeling
unsafe with a roommate or classmate as well as in the classroom. Mr. Koch
responded the counseling center, residence hall training, and student affairs
are all working on this issue at this point.
Professor Vail-Smith (Health and Human Performance) stated
that students are provided mandatory training involving alcohol/ drug awareness
in several of the courses. Mandatory courses on drug and alcohol awareness are
being considered according to Mr. Koch. These may not be limited to freshmen
students.
Professor Schenarts (Medicine) asked if the announcement on
school closings could come earlier than 6 am for those students who travel to
campus from a long distance and are told once arriving that the campus was
closed. Mr. Koch stated that the goal was to make the announcement by 5:15/5:30
am with something getting to the news channels up to 2 hours before classes
start are 8:00AM. He mentioned that text messaging helps for getting the notice
of cancellation out as soon as possible.
Chancellor Ballard was thanked for his continued support of
faculty.
D. Marilyn Sheerer, Provost and Senior Vice
Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs
In light of
the discussion with Mr. Koch, Professor Sheerer suggested that Lynn Roeder,
Chair of the Safety and Concerns Committee, be invited to speak to the Senators
at a later date. Faculty are making referrals to the counseling center, but the
method of making referrals is not as clear as it could be.
Provost
Sheerer then stated that at the end of the student application process last
year the university had 11,750 students and currently have 11,856 students. ECU
is behind in transfer applications; right now ECU is 17.9 % behind and Mr.
Britt is devising some methods to actively recruit at community colleges. Part
of the reason that applications are not being submitted is that standards have
been increased for admission. In fall 2009, 67% of all applications were
accepted and of those acceptances there was a 36% yield rate. That compares
with the fall of 2000 when 74% were accepted and 42% was the yield rate. Compared
to transfer applications 75% of applications were accepted and there was a 65%
yield rate. This was 89% the previous year with a yield rate of 70% yield rate.
Increased standards and selectivity have had an impact on these numbers over
the last two years. This past fall the
average SAT score of with 1080 for admitted applicants with a 2.77 the
projected GPA. The target goal for the 2010 freshman 4,122 students; only a
slight increase is expected over this year.
The Provost
committed to seek faculty input on administrative policies on review of faculty
work load, sanctions for professors who do not turn in final semester grades,
supplemental pay. These are being considered through the University Procedure
Manual PRR process. When the university attorney’s office has reviewed a
procedure that is suggested it will be forwarded to the appropriate faculty
senate committee or committees for review.
The Provost
reported that a large group of faculty worked on a task force that devised a
plan for the honors program to become an Honor’s College. This plan was
presented to the Chancellor and then to the Board of Trustees. There is general
support for the plan and its ability to recruit highly qualified students. The
subgroup for the original task force is now working on a business plan that
will be presented to the Board of Trustees. This business plan will include a
timeline that will indicate when the Dean of the
In
reference to post tenure review and rewarding faculty evaluated as exemplary,
Appendix B was approved by the Board of Trustees last week and has been
submitted to UNC- General Administration.
Provost Sheerer noted that 56% of tenured faculty were deemed exemplary
and that each dean has been asked to work out within their college how to
reward or recognize exemplary work among their tenured faculty members.
Currently there is a large variation in unit criteria that is used to determine
exemplary performance.
Retention
goals were discussed by the Provost and it was made clear that ECU did not meet
our goal for this year The Provost indicated that President Bowles was
considering funding the university based on retention and graduation rates. The
retention goal for next year will be 82%.
Provost
Sheerer noted that the University was being asked to rank the 9 new degree
programs with discussion to take place between the academic council, academic
deans and directors, and Faculty Officers.
Members of the Educational Policies and Planning Committee would also be
asked to share their rankings with the Academic Council.
Provost
Sheerer stated that Board of Trustee members have asked about low-productivity
programs and Academic Council will take a close look at the criteria, to see if
additional criteria are needed, then educate the Board members on how higher
education operates. She stated that she
has asked Chair Marianna Walker to assist in explaining the parameters involved
in the discussion and that programs can not be simply eliminated if there
tenured faculty involved in the programs.
Provost
Sheerer stated that item #19 of SOIS has caused some consternation in units
because the specific unit codes of operation may hinder progress on this topic.
She stated that Deans and Directors need to temporarily handle this within each
unit until the task force (Chaired by Michael Brown) can provide a different
way to handle this situation. It could
take up to 2 years from now before this issue is resolved to everyone’s
satisfaction.
There were
no questions posed to Provost Sheerer and Chair Walker expressed her thanks to
Provost Sheerer for her efforts.
E. Marianna Walker, Chair of the Faculty
Professor
Walker began her remarks by stating
Commonalities… differences….understanding… questioning… appreciation….
Collaborative dialogue….consensus… mutual respect…These words summarize
some of the observations she has made in the last three months regarding the
work of the faculty, administration, university committees, and faculty
senate. This month marks the 4th
faculty senate meeting for 2009/2010, which means that we are halfway through
the academic year and faculty senate meetings.
What have we accomplished in our goals for this year? What challenges await us for the remainder of
the year? Professor Walker stated that she hoped to provide answers to these
questions in her remarks and to allow us to reflect about our roles as
university faculty.
One of the
most challenging but exciting issues about being a faculty member at this time
at
The
university academic and appellate committees are carefully and meticulously
reviewing, updating, and reorganizing the Faculty Manual. They are also
engaging in the review of current administrative policies to provide requested
advice from senior administrators. In
these conversations, differences in unit expectations, disciplines, and
missions are factored into if and how consensus is built and when a “common
ground” is established. Chair
Professor
Walker encouraged all Faculty Senators to not only think about how they are
representing their unit, but to think broadly, especially when voting on
recommendations that will come to the floor of the senate in the next five
months. Senators were asked to make sure that they were representing their
unit, BEFORE casting a vote, and also listen to the discussion regarding issues
affecting Academic Policies, Faculty Welfare, Tenure and Promotion Issues,
Educational Planning and Policies,
Chair
Chair
Professor
Walker stated that the university academic and appellate committees continue to
work diligently in their respective sections of the manual. Academic Standards,
Faculty Welfare, Grievance Board, and the Hearing and Appeals committees are
meeting more than once monthly and in many cases, weekly, in order to complete
their charge to review and offer relevant recommendations regarding the faculty
manual. The committees are all engaging
in important endeavors, where important questions are being asked, solutions
are being explored, and revisions and recommendations are being formulated.
During these next four months, the faculty senate will vote on whether to
eliminate certain sections from the faculty manual, to revise or reorganize
certain sections. She stated, “We have much work to do, but thanks to our
University Committees, the research, collaboration with administration,
students, and staff, and initial drafts will be completed by the time the
recommendations are presented to the senate. We will be able to make
considerable progress in the revision of our faculty manual”
Chair
Professor
Walker expressed her thanks to the entire faculty for all their passion,
energy, and commitment to
To
conclude, Chair Walker stated that ECU was composed of many different cultures.
In meeting the university mission, the representatives of these cultures must
be heard and appreciated for their unique contributions. We all are working to
make
There were
no questions posed to Professor Walker.
F. Ken
Wilson, Faculty Assembly Delegate
Professor
Wilson (Sociology) provided a report on the November
20, 2009,
Faculty Assembly Meeting, for Professor Mark Sprague (Physics) who was absent
today due to a death in the family.
Professor Wilson provided a thorough overview of the full report
available online.
Professor
Given (Foreign Languages and Literatures) asked how General Administration felt
about the discussion in Faculty Assembly on student retention and how each
University could do a better job on working with students who work full time
and try to graduate in a normal graduation schedule.
G. David
Weismiller, Director of SACS
Professor Weismiller provided a written Report on Activities
of the Faculty Credentials Committee and stated that SACS ties the faculty
member’s terminal degree to the courses he or she teaches. Professor Weismiller
stated that his group was working on creating an electronic system at ECU in
order to pull this data when needed and that the developmental strategy
involved collaboration with staff from Banner and ITCS. He also noted that
Professor Sandra Warren (Education) chaired the Faculty Credentials
Committee and would welcome comments or questions on the Committee’s work thus
far.
H. James Gehlhar, Associate Vice Chancellor
for International Affairs
Mr. Gehlhar presented a written report on
International Student Enrollment and stated that he always welcomed faculty
input on activities within his area.
Professor Willson (Medicine) asked why
I. Question Period
There were no questions posed to anyone during the question period.
IV. Unfinished Business
There was no unfinished business to come before the Senate at this time.
V.
Report of Committees
A. Academic Standards Committee, Michael
Brown
Professor Brown (Psychology), member of the committee,
presented first approval of Foundation Curriculum Course for Arts, COMM
2020: Fundamentals of Speech Communication (FC:FA). There was no discussion. Then Professor Brown presented approval of
Foundation Curriculum Course for Science, BIOL
2110/2111: Fundamental of Microbiology (FC:SC). There were no questions and the proposed two
Foundation Curriculum Courses were approved as presented.
Professor Zoller (Art and Design),
Chair of the Committee, presented the proposed 2010-2011
C. Educational
Policies and Planning Committee, Deedee Glascoff
Professor Glascoff (Health and Human Performance) member of the committee,
presented the following proposals for consideration: 1) Sport
and Exercise Psychology Concentration in the Master of Science degree in
Exercise and Sport Science within the College of Health and Human Performance,
2) Risk
Management and Insurance Concentration in the BSBA in Finance within the
College of Business, 3) Health
Physics Concentration in the Master of Science degree in Physics within the
College of Arts and Sciences, 4) Notice of Intent to Plan a New
Baccalaureate Degree in Religion/Religious Studies within a multidisciplinary
program within the College of Arts and Sciences. There was no discussion and the proposals
were approved as presented.
D. Faculty
Governance Committee, Puri
Professor Martinez (Foreign Languages and Literatures),
Chair of the Committee, first presented the proposed revisions to the ECU Faculty Manual, Appendix
I. Policy on Conflicts of Interest and Commitment.
Professor MacGilvray (Medicine)
asked if the revised Appendix I contained information not included in the Board
of Governors policy and procedures and how this would be handled as policies
were revised by the various bodies when working toward a University-wide
policies manual. Professor Martinez responded that yes, the specifics found in
the Board of Governors policy and procedures were incorporated into Appendix I
now before the body. Once the Chancellor
acted on the revised Appendix, the overall University Policy Manual Committee
would need to consider how they wish to proceed. At present, the revised Appendix I (in a
possible different format) will be a part of the final Faculty Manual being
developed.
Professor Romack (Chemistry)
thanked Professors Martinez and Chinn for their work and stated that the
revised document made it easier to follow.
There were no further questions
and the proposed revisions to the ECU Faculty Manual,
Appendix I. Policy on Conflicts of Interest and Commitment were approved as
presented.
Professor Martinez then presented the proposed revisions to
the ECU Faculty Manual, Appendix
D. Tenure and Promotion Policies and Procedures of ECU. She stated that the final revisions addressed
how to describe instructor faculty, how to validate a faculty hearing, and
issues related to early tenure. She
noted how members of the Faculty Governance Committee had collaborated with
others, including the Board of Trustee’s assistant (John Durham) to make sure
that what the committee was doing was acceptable to them.
Professor Givens (Foreign
Languages and Literatures) offered a friendly amendment to Section II.C.5 Progress
Toward Tenure Letters, replacing “This letter will address the
cumulative expectations of the candidate’s contributions to date. “ with “This letter will address the candidate’s cumulative accomplishments to
date as well as the unit administrator’s and tenure committee’s ongoing
expectations of the candidate.”
This was accepted as a friendly amendment.
Professor Glascoff (Health and
Human Performance) mentioned the definition of personal malice and stated that
this seemed ambiguous. She stated shouldn’t
every faculty member involved in a personal malice allegation get a hearing
before their peers. Professor Martinez
replied that the UNC Policy 101.3.1.II.B mandated the definition of personal
malice. Donna Payne, University
Attorney, stated that the parenthetical paragraph was more sinister than it
actually looked in the UNC manual.
Professor Glascoff (Health and
Human Performance) stated that with the validation step being eliminated, this
was a very sad situation with the upcoming Appellate Hearing Committees
expected to become even busier.
Professor Howard (Communication)
stated that the name of Section V. Procedures for review of any notice of non
reappointment shows that the issue is contract renewal. Professor Martinez replied that now faculty
we can appeal at any process along the way, i.e. at the 2nd year
appointment, 4th year appointment and final tenure. This does not apply for promotion.
Professor Niswander clarified that
if the Tenure Committee voted no, then their vote can not be appealed.
Professor Martinez agreed stating that non-conferral of permanent tenure comes
from the Board of Trustees and that all others are just recommendations and can
be appealed.
Following discussion, the proposed revisions to the ECU Faculty Manual, Appendix
D. Tenure and Promotion Policies and Procedures of ECU were approved as
amended.
F. University
Curriculum Committee, Paul Schwager
Professor Schwager (Business), Chair of the Committee
presented curriculum matters contained in the November
12, 2009, University Curriculum Committee minutes. There was no discussion and the curriculum
matters were approved as presented.
VI. New Business
There was no new business to come before the
Respectfully submitted,
Hunt McKinnon Lori
Lee
Secretary of the Faculty
Department of Interior Design and Merchandising
FACULTY SENATE
RESOLUTIONS APPROVED AT THE DECEMBER 1, 2009, MEETING
09-47 Approval of Foundation Curriculum Course for Arts, COMM
2020: Fundamentals of Speech Communication (FC:FA)
and Approval of Foundation Curriculum Course for Science, BIOL
2110/2111: Fundamental of Microbiology (FC:SC)
Disposition:
Chancellor
09-48 Proposed 2010-2011
|
August
31, 2010 |
September
7, 2010 |
|
September
21, 2010 |
October
5, 2010 |
|
October
19, 2010 |
November
2, 2010 |
|
November
16, 2010 |
December
7, 2010 |
|
January
11, 2011 |
January
25, 2011 |
|
February
8, 2011 |
February
22, 2011 |
|
March
15, 2011 |
March
29, 2011 |
|
April 5,
2011 |
April
19, 2011 |
|
|
April
26, 2011 Organizational
Meeting |
Disposition:
09-49 Sport
and Exercise Psychology Concentration in the Master of Science degree in
Exercise and Sport Science within the College of Health and Human Performance; Risk
Management and Insurance Concentration in the BSBA in Finance within the
College of Business; Health
Physics Concentration in the Master of Science degree in Physics within the
College of Arts and Sciences; Notice of
Intent to Plan a New
Baccalaureate Degree in Religion/Religious Studies within a
multidisciplinary program within the College of Arts and Sciences.
Disposition: Chancellor
09-50 Proposed revisions to
the ECU Faculty Manual, Appendix
I. Policy on Conflicts of Interest and Commitment.
Disposition: Chancellor, Board of Trustees
09-51 Proposed revisions to
the ECU Faculty Manual, Appendix
D. Tenure and Promotion Policies and Procedures of ECU
Disposition: Chancellor, Board of Trustees, General
Administration
09-52 Curriculum matters contained
in the November
12, 2009, University Curriculum Committee minutes.